Kim Schatzel, who was touring the remote area with Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, posted selfies with the students on social media and praised the partnership.

“UofL plays a vital role in preparing future dentists to serve patients throughout the commonwealth and beyond. I am so proud of the work that our dental students are doing at the Red Bird Clinic, filling a need that would likely be unmet without them,” said Schatzel. “This partnership is truly beneficial to all involved. Our students enrich their educational experience, and the residents of southeastern Kentucky receive exceptional care.”

UofL has partnered with the clinic in Beverly, Kentucky, since 2017. UofL dental students work there four days a week under the direction of a local dentist. 

UofL dental students work similar rotations at the Shawnee Dental Clinic in an underserved Louisville urban area and at West Kentucky Community and Technical College, providing services to residents of the Jackson Purchase region. 

The Red Bird Dental Clinic, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, serves Clay, Bell and Leslie counties and is located in a federal “Promise Zone,” in which high-poverty communities work closely with the federal government on issues such as education, crime, health and investment. The clinic serves about 600 patients a year.

“This educational partnership is making a significant difference in the health and lives of so many families in some of the commonwealth’s most economically depressed areas,” said Stivers. “A rich … opportunity for UofL students means quality dentistry and improved opportunities for many in the region.”

Schatzel and Stivers also toured Clay County High School, which is undergoing extensive renovations.

The first opened in 2021, and the second opened this fall. While the new residence halls are outfitted to meet 21st-century students’ needs, both were missing one important element — proper names.

University of Louisville Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez provided that last key element at the Sept. 23, 2022, meeting of the university Board of Trustees, when she announced that the new resident halls will bear the names Belknap Village North and Belknap Village South. Gonzalez’s announcement was met with the trustees’ approval. In her remarks, Gonzalez noted the proximity of the residence halls to other university facilities, such as the Swain Student Activities Center, the Interfaith Center, Ekstrom Library, numerous classroom buildings and outdoor common areas. Further, the new Center for Engaged Learning, where students can find hands-on job and research opportunities, will open on the bottom floor of Belknap Village South.

“Both the placement of these new facilities as well as consideration of students’ needs in the planning, design and construction exemplify the university’s commitment to strength of community,” said Gonzalez. “Our new residence halls, which 900 primarily first-year students call home, are indeed part of our campus village.”

Other Highlights

Trustees approved the creation of a Public Health Training Graduate Certificate and a Franchise Management Undergraduate Certificate. The Public Health Training Certificate will provide foundational public health knowledge to working professionals who may not be ready to fully commit to a traditional Master of Public Health degree. The Franchise Management Undergraduate Certificate will prepare students to work in franchising, whether that involves becoming a franchisee, working for a franchisee, working for a franchisor or working in the industry.

According to Interim Provost Gerry Bradley, both new certificate programs align with growing market interest in their respective fields and will provide stronger connections between the university and leaders in the public health and business franchise sectors.

The School of Medicine’s request to rename the Diabetes & Obesity Center to the Center for Cardiometabolic Science was unanimously approved. “Diabetes and obesity” focus on risk factors and disease; however, the center’s members also work on fundamental explanation of cardiovascular/cardiometabolic health. The center’s new name encompasses members’ interests in both health and disease.

Bradley notified trustees of two program closures. During a program review, the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary ����ֱ�� identified the Bachelor of Arts in art history degree program for closure due to low and declining enrollment, low degree conferrals and low student market demand. The art and design faculty are converting the BA (Bachelor of Arts) in art history to an art history track within the BA in art degree program.

The Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Distribution will also close due to low enrollment with no students enrolling in the program since Fall 2016. Consequently, the industrial engineering faculty will transition the certificate to an interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management in partnership with faculty in the College of Business.

UofL’s new Center for Engaged Learning (CEL) will celebrate its grand opening Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. UofL’s newest student resource is located on the first floor of the Belknap Village South residence hall. Paul DeMarco, interim director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, gave a presentation about the value of engaged learning at UofL. In doing so, he emphasized how the university’s many different engaged learning opportunities, such as internships, study abroad programs, co-ops and research assistant programs, illustrate how the student experience goes beyond the classroom. The CEL will work on partnership with UofL’s existing engaged learning resources, such as the University Career Centers, Office of Community Engagement, Office of Study Abroad and International Travel, academic programs and several other units to connect students with engaged learning activities.

Jacoby Banet, Madison Cicha and Afi Tagnedji, who all recently participated in the Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP), were also on hand to share the positive outcomes of their engaged learning experiences.

“The center is an exciting resource that will greatly benefit our students,” said Gonzalez. “Students who have had engaged or experiential learning opportunities ask richer questions in class and are prepared after graduation to tackle complex problems in any workplace setting.”

The next meeting of the University of Louisville Board of Trustees will take place Friday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. in the Jefferson Room, Grawemeyer Hall. Meeting information, committee reports and meeting minutes are available on the Board of Trustees .

As a participant, Cicha is one of 18 undergraduate students taking part in the 10-week funded research experience, directed by UofL’s and the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity. She says the program has given her a new level of research independence.

“This summer I have much more control over the study design and analysis of the data than I’ve had on previous projects,” she said.

Ray Yeager, assistant professor, Department of Environmental Medicine, is Cicha’s mentor. He says programs like SROP help undergraduate students build research understanding while also leading them toward more informed choices about research as a career path and future graduate schools.

“It is fundamentally different than sitting in class since you are participating in real research,” he said.

The Summer Research Opportunity Program offers participants a living allowance of $3,500 for the 10 weeks, plus their mentors receive $500 to support student research projects. Students identify a research mentor who provides them with an individualized research project. They also benefit from group seminars on research and graduate education topics. To participate, students need to have completed their second year of undergraduate education.

“I’m a big fan of SROP because it is crucial for equity,” said Yeager, who is now in his third year of providing SROP student mentorship. “If someone is from a disadvantaged background, they can’t just go volunteer with a lab for the summer. Because this is a funded program it gives students who otherwise would have to work the opportunity to focus on research.”

Yeager adds that the program is beneficial for undergraduates with a variety of future goals, pointing out that students don’t have to desire a career in research to gain value from things like understanding data analytics and other important aspects of research.

For Ethan Mills, a biology major with plans to become a trauma or critical care physician, the summer experience is helping develop essential character traits of “discipline, patience and the ability to achieve goals with a team. My critical thinking skills also have greatly improved while designing experiments and fixing issues as they arise,” he said.

Mills is taking part in work that includes purifying hemoglobin from swine red blood cells, and then conducting experiments with the blood. He’s participating in research within the lab of Michael Menze, professor, Department of Biology, and associate dean of research and innovation, College of Arts and Sciences. The lab hopes to develop a freeze-dried red blood cell product that would extend the shelf life of transfusible units and allow red blood cells to be stored at room temperature.

The soon-to-be fourth-year biology student says he appreciates the wisdom Menze imparted to him this summer.

“He has taught me the importance of maintaining a positive attitude despite setbacks, and carefully planning experiments before beginning them,” Mills said.  

Cicha also is learning time management, literature reviews and general best practices for the research world.

“In the future, I’d like to continue researching the environment, specifically climate change and solutions in that realm. This program is greatly helping me to shape those plans, as I’m able to experience what it’s like presenting and reporting on my findings,” Cicha said.

The SROP students, along with more than 80 additional undergraduate and graduate students taking part in summer research programs across UofL’s campuses, will present their findings in the Research Showcase on Aug. 5 at the Kosair Charities Clinical & Translation Research Building.

“I think SROP is a unique experience that UofL offers undergraduates. It’s great to be paired with someone who genuinely cares about the next generation of scientists and to meet other students with similar life goals,” Cicha said.

Here is Cicha talking about her summer research experience:

KSB, run by the Kentucky Department of ����ֱ�� (KDE), provides educational services for students throughout the state who are blind or visually impaired. Starting in 1884, the school operated a segregated facility on its campus that closed in the 1950s and was demolished.

UofL students from the Department of Anthropology are helping teach younger KSB students archeological field methods such as screening and excavating. A community participation day was held May 21. 

In addition to KDE, other partners are the UofL’s (CACHe) and the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation (KSBCF).

“It has been great seeing these students learn about archeology and be so excited about the process and learn about the history of their campus,” said Ashley Smallwood, UofL associate professor of anthropology and archaeologist who is directing the project as part of her Archaeology Methods course. Assisting her is Tom Jennings, assistant professor of anthropology, archaeologist and director of CACHe. A total of 10 UofL students are taking the course and participating in the project.

KSB Principal Peggy Sinclair-Morris said the school was excited to partner with the KSBCF and UofL for a unique experience.

“In addition, it supports learning about the field of archeology and the importance of preserving and talking about history,” she said.

Kentucky Commissioner of ����ֱ�� Jason E. Glass said the project also supports the state initiative.

“This opportunity really hits upon two of the main themes of United We Learn, which is a new vision for the future of public education in the Commonwealth that was created by Kentuckians,” he said. “The central pillar of United We Learn is creating a vibrant experience for every student by making it more hands-on and experiential. It also stresses the importance of our schools and their communities working together.”

The dig began May 9 and will end May 27.